Seduced By A Steele (Forged of Steele, #12)

by Brenda Jackson

[Nadz@Totally Addicted to Reading]

Mercury Steele is a womanizer who has left behind a string of broken hearts. Handsome, sexy and downright cocky. An avid collector of classic cars, so when one of his cars got stolen, he was far from amused. It didn’t help when he saw said car in traffic on his way to a meeting. On further investigation he discovered it was being driven by the beautiful Sloane Donahue.

Sloane left home to prove to her parents she could make it on her own. They were intent on forcing her into a loveless marriage all in the name of money. When she refused, her father gave her an ultimatum, his way or the highway. She chose the highway. However, a string of bad luck has since followed her. Despite not being pleased with how the incident surrounding the theft of his car, Mercury offered a helping hand when he discovered her predicament.

This is the twelfth book in the Forged of Steele series and can be easily read as a standalone. Mercury’s brothers whose stories have already been told appears in this installment. I liked the book, but I was not in love with it. I enjoyed the writing, but found the story predictable.

Initially Mercury acted like a jerk, but he changed as the story progressed. I didn’t like how he kept things from Sloane, knowing how much she wanted to prove her independence. The manner in which she discovered the truth was predictable, but her reaction was not one would expect in such a situation.

Sloane’s need to prove herself was understandable, but for someone down on her luck her refusal to accept help when offered reeked of stupidity.

The romance developed quickly and I found to it be unrealistic, given the circumstances and the time frame in which the events transpired. The sexual tension, however, was intense and when they became intimate it was hot and steamy.

Sloane’s father was a manipulative and an evil bastard. His reasons for wanting to force his daughter into a loveless marriage revealed the extent of his depravity. I am glad to see he got what he deserved.

Conclusion/Recommendation
Seduced by a Steele was a quick and easy read, which would appeal to fans of romance with a hint of spice.